Top Food Poisoning Sources Revealed: CDC

Food poisoning happens all the time. It sickens 48 million Americans each year, according to the CDC, but for most of us it's not too serious. Still, about 3,000 people die every year from illnesses related to food poisoning.

The biggest culprit: Salmonella bacteria, which shouldn't be a shock to anyone. But what is interesting is where most Salmonella and other infections come from.

The Most Common Sources of Foodborne Illness

If you've been wary of raw eggs, meat, and poultry, your fears are justified. Salmonella in eggs and E. coli in beef are some of the most common sources of food poisoning.

Salmonella from undercooked chicken is also a serious concern. It's the No. 1 source of death from food poisoning, reports NBC News.

But the biggest source of foodborne illness is apparently leafy green vegetables. It's linked to 20% of all food poisoning cases in the United States every year. Other common non-meat sources of illness include sprouts, tomatoes, peppers, and unpasteurized dairy products.

The CDC's food poisoning study -- found in the March 2013 edition of the CDC's Emerging Infectious Disease Journal -- isn't really "good news," but you may still want to take its findings to heart. For example, instead of a leafy green salad when you're out at a restaurant, maybe just skip to the chocolate cake. After all, it's for your health, right?